Revision 1

Overview

Recycling is a core system in Outbound that connects exploration, crafting, and progression into a single gameplay loop. As players travel through the game's biomes, they collect litter and discarded items scattered throughout the environment. This trash is processed in the Recycler Machine mounted on the camper van, producing Download Vouchers that serve as the primary currency for unlocking new blueprints at Signal Towers. The system reinforces Outbound's solarpunk setting and its themes of environmental sustainability.

How Recycling Works

The recycling process follows a straightforward loop that forms one of the game's central activities:

1. Collect trash: Pick up discarded bottles, cans, and other litter found throughout the world while exploring on foot or driving.

2. Return to the van: Bring collected trash back to the camper van where the Recycler Machine is installed.

3. Process in the Recycler: Feed trash items into the Recycler Machine (also called the Trash Compactor) to break them down.

4. Receive Download Vouchers: The Recycler outputs Download Vouchers as a reward for processing trash.

5. Spend at Signal Towers: Use Download Vouchers at Signal Towers to download new blueprints for crafting recipes, workstations, and building components.

This loop creates a natural rhythm of exploration and return. Players venture out to gather resources and trash, then circle back to the van to process what they have found before heading to a Signal Tower to spend their vouchers.

The Recycler Machine

The Recycler Machine (sometimes referred to as the Trash Compactor) is a workstation mounted directly on the camper van. It accepts collected litter items and converts them into Download Vouchers. The machine is available from the start of the game and does not need to be crafted or unlocked separately.

Players interact with the Recycler by opening the van's rear hatch and feeding trash into the machine. The processing is immediate, with vouchers added to the player's inventory as soon as the trash is inserted. Different types of trash may yield different amounts of vouchers, encouraging players to collect a variety of discarded items rather than focusing on a single type.

Download Vouchers

Download Vouchers are the output of the recycling process and the primary currency used at Signal Towers. Each voucher represents a unit of value earned by cleaning up the environment. Players spend vouchers to select and download new blueprints from the signal network.

The voucher system ties recycling directly to progression through the technology tree. Without recycling, players cannot earn the vouchers needed to unlock new crafting recipes and building options. This makes trash collection an essential activity rather than an optional side task.

Bottle Caps

Bottle caps are a separate collectible found alongside regular litter in the world. Unlike standard trash, bottle caps are not processed in the Recycler Machine. Instead, they function as a secondary currency that can be spent at vending machines scattered across the map.

Vending machines offer unique items, consumables, or cosmetics that cannot be obtained through crafting or Signal Tower blueprints. Bottle caps provide an additional incentive to explore thoroughly and check every corner of each location.

Connection to Progression

The recycling system is the primary driver of progression in Outbound. The core loop works as follows:

This progression loop encourages players to explore every corner of the map. Since trash is scattered everywhere, from roadsides and forest clearings to beaches and mountain trails, the act of cleaning up the environment naturally leads players to discover new landmarks, resources, and points of interest.

Environmental Theme

The recycling system is deeply tied to Outbound's solarpunk aesthetic and its themes of sustainability and environmental care. In the game's near-future setting, the world has shifted toward renewable energy and ecological responsibility. Collecting and recycling litter fits naturally into this vision: the player is not just gathering currency, but actively cleaning up the environment.

The system complements other environmentally themed mechanics, including the energy system (solar-powered battery on the van) and the farming system (sustainable food cultivation). Together, these systems create a game world where progress comes from working with nature rather than exploiting it.

Tips

• Pick up every piece of litter you see while exploring. Even small amounts of trash add up over time.

• Check behind buildings, under bridges, and along shorelines for hidden litter clusters.

• Process trash regularly rather than hoarding it. Download Vouchers are more useful than unprocessed litter sitting in your inventory.

• Keep bottle caps separate in your mind from regular trash. They serve a different purpose at vending machines.

• When traveling between biomes, scan roadsides for discarded items. Transition zones between biomes often have clusters of litter.

• In co-op, coordinate with other players to cover more ground and maximize trash collection efficiency.